LRBA organizes distinct vesicular trafficking systems in distal nephron segments for water and sodium conservation

K Kanako Nagaoka (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) F Fumiaki Ando (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) T Tamami Fujiki (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) H Hassan Abolhassani Y Yu Hara (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) H Hideki Yanagawa (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) S Soichiro Suzuki (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) Y Yuriko Sakamaki (Ochanomizu Research Facility, Bioscience Center, Institute of Science Tokyo) D Daisuke Oikawa (Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University) H Hiroaki Kikuchi (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) S Shintaro Mandai (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) Y Yutaro Mori (Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering) T Takayasu Mori (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) K Koichiro Susa (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) E Eisei Sohara (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) A Akihiro Hoshino (Department of Child Health and Development, Institute of Science Tokyo) T Tsuyoshi Ito (Department of Pediatrics, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital) Y Yuki Arakawa (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Saitama Children’s Medical Center) Y Yoji Sasahara (Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) S Shinsuke Yasuda (Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo) Y Yoichiro Abe (Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine) M Masato Yasui (Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine) F Fuminori Tokunaga (Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University) H Hirokazu Kanegane (Department of Child Health and Development, Institute of Science Tokyo) S Shinichi Uchida (Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo)

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide-responsive and beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder characterized by immune dysregulation. The immune checkpoint molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) fails to perform proper membrane trafficking in the absence of LRBA. In addition to immune cells, LRBA localizes to intracellular vesicles in various epithelial cells; however, its physiological roles have not been accurately deciphered. It was observed in this study that LRBA facilitates water and sodium transport by promoting vesicular trafficking of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and AQP4 in renal collecting duct cells and that of sterile 20/SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) in distal convoluted tubule cells. Consequently, Lrba knockout mice exhibited vasopressin-resistant polyuria and hypotension under sodium-restricted conditions. This registry study revealed a polyuric phenotype in a subset of patients with LRBA deficiency, characterized by inappropriately low urine specific gravity despite the presence of chronic diarrhea. Notably, desmopressin treatment ameliorated impaired urinary concentration in a mouse model of human LRBA deficiency. LRBA functions as a central coordinator of fluid and sodium homeostasis by organizing segment-specific vesicular trafficking systems in renal epithelial cells.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 18
Published May 05, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (25)

K

Kanako Nagaoka

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

F

Fumiaki Ando

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

T

Tamami Fujiki

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

H

Hassan Abolhassani

Y

Yu Hara

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

H

Hideki Yanagawa

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

S

Soichiro Suzuki

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

Y

Yuriko Sakamaki

Ochanomizu Research Facility, Bioscience Center, Institute of Science Tokyo

D

Daisuke Oikawa

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University

H

Hiroaki Kikuchi

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

S

Shintaro Mandai

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

Y

Yutaro Mori

Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering

T

Takayasu Mori

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

K

Koichiro Susa

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

E

Eisei Sohara

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

A

Akihiro Hoshino

Department of Child Health and Development, Institute of Science Tokyo

T

Tsuyoshi Ito

Department of Pediatrics, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital

Y

Yuki Arakawa

Department of Hematology/Oncology, Saitama Children’s Medical Center

Y

Yoji Sasahara

Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

S

Shinsuke Yasuda

Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo

Y

Yoichiro Abe

Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine

M

Masato Yasui

Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine

F

Fuminori Tokunaga

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University

H

Hirokazu Kanegane

Department of Child Health and Development, Institute of Science Tokyo

S

Shinichi Uchida

Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo